Players from the Chinese team carried Zhang Zhi Jie’s jersey to the podium when they won the 2024 Asia Junior Championship (AJC), Tuesday (2/7).
The Chinese mixed team badminton team won the 2024 AJC after defeating South Korea in the final which took place at GOR Among Rogo, Yogyakarta, Tuesday (2/7) afternoon. During the medal presentation procession, the Chinese players carried Zhang Zhi Jie’s jersey.
China won 3-1 over South Korea. The young team from the Bamboo Curtain Country took the lead thanks to the men’s doubles victory of Hu Ke Yuan/Lin Xiang Yi 21-14, 21-19 over Lee Hyeong Woo/Lee Jong Min.
Korea then equalized through women’s singles athlete Kim Min Sun who beat Xu Wen Jing 21-7, 19-21 and 21-14.
China regained the lead thanks to men’s singles Wang Zi Jun who beat Lee Sun Jin 21-13, 21-8.
In the fourth match, Chinese women’s doubles Chen Fan Shu Tian/Liu Jia Yue overcame the resistance of Kim Min Ji/Yeon Seo Yeon with a score of 21-16, 22-20.
Victory in the fourth match ensured that China became champions of the 2024 AJC. Thus, the fifth match, which was planned to bring together the mixed doubles pair Lin Xian Yi/Liu Yuan Yuan and Cho Hyeon Woo/Chen Hye In, was not held.
China celebrated victory in sorrow because one of its singles athletes, Zhang Zhi Jie, died on Sunday (30/6) evening after collapsing on the court when facing Japan’s men’s singles in the group phase.
Zhang Zhi Jie, who is China’s top men’s singles player, appeared against Kazuma Kawano in the third match. The match was tough.
At 11-11, when he was about to receive Kawano’s serve, Zhang Zhi Jie fell and then lay on his stomach on the court. His body seemed to be convulsing. The Chinese coach had time to enter the field, but he had died.
Without Zhi Jie, they still advance to the final and ensure the title. Chinese players wore black bands on their arms in the last two matches as a sign of mourning.
